Roller for a cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A roller and a cleaning device are provided. The roller may be coupled to a cleaning device for wringing liquid from a hydrophilic member of the cleaning device. The roller may include an opening defined through an outer wall of the roller and liquid wrung from the hydrophilic member may pass through the roller via the opening. The cleaning device may include a handle, a hydrophilic member coupled to the handle, and a wringer coupled to the handle for wringing liquid from the hydrophilic member. The wringer may include a hand grip and a roller coupled to the hand grip. Upon activation, the roller may move relative to the hydrophilic member and may be adapted to force liquid from the hydrophilic member upon compression of the hydrophilic member. The roller may define an opening therethrough and liquid forced from the hydrophilic member may pass through the roller via the opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a cleaning device and, moreparticularly, to a cleaning device such as, for example, a mop includinga hydrophilic cleaning member and a pair of rollers adapted to wringliquid from the cleaning member.

BACKGROUND

Mops have had a variety of different configurations over the years. Twopopular designs include bucket wringing mops and self-wringing mops.Bucket wringing mops generally require a separate bucket and separatewringing device (otherwise known as a wringer) coupled to the bucket towring the mop. Such mops are placed into the wringer, the wringer isactuated to wring liquid from the mop, and the mop is removed from thewringer to continue cleaning. Self-wringing mops include a wringingdevice or wringer integrally formed with or coupled to the mop itself,thereby making a separate wringer unnecessary. Such self-wringing mopsare operated by first utilizing the mop to clean, then the wringercoupled to the mop is actuated to wring liquid from the mop. Afterwringing, the mop may be used again to clean.

SUMMARY

In one example, a roller for a cleaning device for wringing liquid froma hydrophilic member of the cleaning device may include an outer walldefining a cavity and having a first surface and on opposing secondsurface. At least one opening is defined through the outer wall of theroller from the first surface to the second surface, wherein a liquidwrung from the hydrophilic member passes through the roller via the atleast one opening through the cavity an exits the roller.

In another example, a cleaning device may include a handle, ahydrophilic member coupled to the handle, and a wringer coupled to thehandle and moveable axially along the handle for wringing liquid fromthe hydrophilic member. The wringer may include a yoke and a rollercoupled to the actuator. The roller may include an outer wall defining acavity and at least one opening defined through the outer wall and influid communication with the cavity. Movement of the yoke towards thehydrophilic member causes the roller to move relative to the hydrophilicmember and compress the hydrophilic member and a liquid wrung from thehydrophilic member to pass through the roller via the at least oneopening through the cavity an exits the roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an exemplary cleaning device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top front perspective view of a portion of thecleaning device shown in FIG. 1, with the illustrated portion of thecleaning device including, among other things, a cleaning head, which isshown in a non-wringing or cleaning position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the cleaning device shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom front perspective view of a roller of the cleaningdevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the roller shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the roller shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the roller taken along line 7-7 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the roller taken along line 8-8 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the roller taken along line 9-9 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a left side view of a portion of the cleaning device shown inFIG. 1, with the portion of the cleaning device including, among otherthings, a cleaning head, which is shown in an intermediate wringingposition; and

FIG. 11 is a left side view of a portion of the cleaning device shown inFIG. 1, with the portion of the cleaning device including, among otherthings, a cleaning head, which is shown in a fully wrung position.

Before any independent features and embodiments of the invention areexplained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of the construction and thearrangement of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in variousways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology usedherein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary cleaning device 20 isillustrated. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, cleaning device 20is a hand-operable floor cleaning device, such as, for example, aself-wringing mop, including an elongated handle 24, a hand grip 28coupled to a first end 30 of the handle 24, a cleaning head 32 coupledto a second end 34 (see FIG. 3) of the handle 24, a wringer 40 coupledto the handle 24 for wringing liquid from the cleaning head 32, and ascrubber 36 coupled to the wringer 40. Exemplary handle 24 is only oneof many different types and sizes of handles to which cleaning head 32may be coupled. For example, cleaning head 32 may be coupled to anyother type or size of elongated handle for cleaning a floor surface froma standing position. Also, for example, cleaning head 32 may be coupledto “hand held” type handles commonly characterized as having a shorterhandle length than a “stand-up” or “mop” type handle 24 as illustratedin FIG. 1. Further, for example, cleaning head 32 may be coupled to anytype or size of handle for cleaning a wide variety of surfaces such asfloors, walls, or any other surfaces.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, handle 24 may be coupled tocleaning head 32 in a variety of manners. In the exemplary illustratedembodiment, handle 24 may be coupled to cleaning head 32 via a rigid,non-movable connection such as an ACME threaded connection, whichcomprises an externally threaded portion 44 extending from second end 34of handle 24 and an internally threaded portion 48 defined in cleaninghead 32. Threaded portions 44, 48 are complementarily shaped forthreadable engagement to couple handle 24 to cleaning head 32.Alternatively, handle 24 may define an internally threaded portion andcleaning head 32 may include an externally threaded portion forthreadable engagement. In other exemplary embodiments, handle 24 maycouple to cleaning head 32 via other rigid, non-movable connections suchas, for example, other types of threaded connections, fasteners,unitarily forming handle 24 with cleaning head 32, bonding, adhering,etc. In yet other exemplary embodiments, handle 24 may couple tocleaning head 32 via a movable joint such as, for example, a jointallowing a single direction of movement, a universal joint allowingmultiple directions of movement, etc.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, cleaning head 32 includes acleaning member 52 and a bracket 56 secured to a top of cleaning member52. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, cleaning member 52 is asponge having hydrophilic properties. Alternatively, cleaning member 52may be other types of hydrophilic elements and be within the spirit andscope of the present invention.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, wringer 40 includes a body 60, ahand grip 64 disposed in this example at a top end of body 60, a yoke 68disposed at a bottom end of body 60, and a pair of rollers 72. Wringerbody 60 is hollow, which allows handle 24 to extend therethrough tocouple to cleaning head 32 and also allows body 60 to move axiallyrelative to handle 24. A user may grip hand grip 64 of wringer 40 andactuate wringer 40. Yoke 68 includes a first member 76 and a secondmember 80 spaced apart from each other to provide a cavity 84therebetween. One of the rollers 72 is connected to each of the firstand second members 76, 80 via a roller connector 88, which in thisexample comprises a semi-circular cutout for receiving a portion ofroller 72 and appropriately sized to facilitate retention of roller 72while allowing rotation of roller 72 therein. A pair of protrusions 92extend from each of the first and second members 76, 80, one protrusion92 on each of opposite sides of the first and second members 76, 80, ina direction generally parallel to longitudinal axes 96 of rollers 72.Protrusions 92 are adapted to limit rotation of rollers 72 in at leastone direction.

Structurally, rollers 72 are substantially the same as one another and,therefore, only one of the rollers 72 will be described herein. Withparticular reference to FIGS. 3-9, roller 72 has a longitudinal shapeand is rotatable about a longitudinal axis 96 extending longitudinallythrough roller 72 and substantially aligned with a center of rollerconnector 88. Roller 72 includes two connectors 100, two exteriormembers 104, and a middle member 108. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the two connectors 100 are substantially cylindrical inshape and are complementary to the shape of roller connectors 88 definedin yoke 68 in order to facilitate coupling of rollers 72 to yoke 68,while allowing rotation of rollers 72 relative to yoke 68.

Middle member 108 is substantially semi-cylindrical in shape and has asubstantially semi-circular periphery in cross-section (see FIG. 8).Alternatively, middle member 108 may have other shapes. Middle member108 has a generally cylindrical outer wall 118 that defines a cavity 112and includes an inner surface 116 and an outer surface 120. A pair ofribs 124 extend from inner surface 116 and through cavity 112 to dividecavity 112 into three portions or channels 128, 132, 136. Alternatively,middle member 108 may include other numbers of ribs (including one) todivide the cavity into any number of portions. Also, in the alternative,middle member 108 may include no ribs. A plurality of openings 140 aredefined through middle member 108 and extend completely therethroughfrom outer surface 120 to inner surface 116. Openings 140 may beoriented in three sets of openings, a first set of openings 140A alignedwith first portion 128 of cavity 112, a second set of openings 140Baligned with second portion 132 of cavity 112, and a third set ofopenings 140C aligned with third portion 136 of cavity 112.Alternatively, the plurality of openings 140 may be defined in themiddle member 108 in any configuration and in any quantity.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3-9, exterior members 104 areeccentrically shaped and each has an outer wall 174 that defines acavity 144. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the outer wall 174has a generally eccentric shape and is a tear-drop shape as bestillustrated in FIGS. 6-11. Each outer wall 174 of exterior member 104includes an inner surface 148, an outer surface 152. Exterior members104 also have an outer end 156, an inner end 160, and a pair of ribs 164extending from inner surface 148 and through cavity 144 to divide cavity144 into three portions or channels 168, 172, 176. Alternatively,exterior members 104 may include other numbers of ribs 164 (includingone) to divide cavity 144 into any number of portions. Also, in thealternative, exterior members 104 may include no ribs. A plurality ofopenings 180 are defined through each exterior member 104 and extendcompletely therethrough from outer surface 152 to inner surface 148.Openings 180 may be oriented in three sets of openings, a first set ofopenings 180A aligned with first portion 168 of cavity 144, a second setof openings 180B aligned with second portion 172 of cavity 144, and athird set of openings 180C aligned with third portion 176 of cavity 144.Alternatively, openings 180 may be defined in exterior members 104 inany configuration and in any quantity. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, outer surfaces 152 of both exterior members 104 aresubstantially the same eccentric shape and both of the outer surfaces152 continually curve, with no straight portions (see particularly FIGS.6, 7, and 9), to form a point 184. Such a shape of outer surfaces 152may be considered a tear-drop shape. Alternatively, outer surfaces 152of exterior members 104 may have a different shape to that illustrated.Also, in the alternative, outer surfaces 152 of exterior members 104 mayhave a different shape relative to each other. Further, in thealternative, middle member 108 may have the same eccentric shape asexterior members 104. Each exterior member 104 also includes a ledge 188extending from inner end 160 thereof. Each ledge 188 includes asubstantially flat surface engageable with a respective one ofprotrusions 92 extending from yoke 68 to limit rotation of rollers 72.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 10, and 11, operation of exemplary cleaningdevice 20 will be described. With particular reference to FIG. 2,cleaning device 20 is shown in a cleaning position or non-wringingposition. In this position, cleaning device 20 may be used to clean asurface as desired. The shape and material of cleaning member 52 isintended to apply a continuous upward force on rollers 72, which biasesrollers 72 toward their cleaning or non-wrung position. Rollers 72 aremaintained in this cleaning position by protrusions 92 engaging ledges188 of rollers 72.

During operation, it may be desirable to wring liquid from cleaningmember 52. To wring liquid from cleaning member 52, a user grips handgrip 64 of wringer 40 and pushes wringer 40 downward toward cleaninghead 32 while the user either maintains handle 24 in position or pullshandle 24 in a direction opposite to the direction of movement ofwringer 40. With particular reference to FIG. 10, wringer 40 is shown inan intermediate wringing position, which illustrates that rollers 72begin to roll along an outer surface of cleaning member 52 whilecleaning member 52 is compressed between rollers 72 and moves intocavity 84. The space between rollers 72 is intentionally narrower thanthe width of cleaning member 52 in order to adequately compress cleaningmember 52 to wring a desired amount of liquid from cleaning member 52.

With additional reference to FIGS. 7-9, the plurality of openings 140,180 defined in the middle member 108 and exterior members 104 allowliquid wrung from cleaning member 52 to enter into openings 140, 180,pass through rollers 72 via the portions or channels 128, 132, 136, 168,172, 176, and exit out of rollers 72 on opposite sides of middle member108 and exterior members 104 from openings 140, 180.

Referring now to FIG. 11, wringer 40 is shown in a fully wrung position.In this position, the top of cleaning member 52 (or bracket 56) engagesa top surface 192 of cavity 84 to prevent further downward movement ofwringer 40 and also prevent further rolling of rollers 72 down cleaningmember 52. A majority of cleaning member 52 has been compressed betweenrollers 72 resulting in a majority of the liquid being wrung fromcleaning member 52. Tip 184 of rollers 72 does not quite reach the endof cleaning member 52 to prevent cleaning member 52 from slipping orbecoming stuck between rollers 72 in the fully wrung position. Inaddition, because of the eccentric shape of exterior members 104, point184 of rollers 72 has passed axis 96 and will be held in this positionuntil sufficient force is applied to disengage rollers 72 and rotatethem back to the cleaning position. After cleaning member 52 has beenwrung, wringer 40 can be returned to its cleaning position to allowfurther use of cleaning device 20. To return wringer 40 to the cleaningposition, a user may grip hand grip 64 and pull wringer 40 upward untilledges 188 of rollers 72 engage protrusions 92. Wringing of cleaningmember 52 may be repeated as desired by repeating these steps.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The descriptions wereselected to explain the principles of the invention and their practicalapplication to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. Although particular constructions of thepresent invention have been shown and described, other alternativeconstructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and arewithin the intended scope of the present invention.

1. A roller for a cleaning device for wringing liquid from a hydrophilicmember of the cleaning device, the roller comprising: an outer walldefining a cavity and having a first surface and an opposing secondsurface; and at least one opening defined through the outer wall fromthe first surface to the second surface, wherein a liquid wrung from thehydrophilic member passes through the at least one opening, through thecavity, and exits the roller.
 2. The roller of claim 1, furthercomprising a longitudinal axis, wherein at least a portion of the rollerhas an eccentric shape taken along a plane transverse to thelongitudinal axis.
 3. The roller of claim 2, wherein the eccentric shapeis a tear-drop shape.
 4. The roller of claim 3, wherein at least aportion of the roller has a cylindrical shape.
 5. The roller of claim 1,wherein the first surface is an outer surface of the roller, the secondsurface is an inner surface of the roller.
 6. The roller of claim 1,further comprising a rib extending from at least one of the first andsecond surfaces and into the cavity.
 7. The roller of claim 6, whereinthe rib at least partially defines the opening.
 8. The roller of claim6, wherein the rib is a first rib, the roller further comprising asecond rib extending from at least one of the first and second surfacesand into the cavity.
 9. The roller of claim 1, wherein the opening isone of a plurality of openings, and wherein a liquid wrung from thehydrophilic member passes through the plurality of openings, through thecavity, and exits the roller.
 10. A cleaning device comprising: ahandle; a hydrophilic member coupled to the handle; and a wringercoupled to the handle and moveable axially along the handle for wringingliquid from the hydrophilic member, the wringer including; a hand grip;and a roller coupled to the hand grip, the roller having an outer walldefining a cavity and at least one opening defined through the outerwall and in fluid communication with the cavity; wherein movement of thehand grip towards the hydrophilic member moves the roller relative tothe hydrophilic member to compress the hydrophilic member, such that aliquid is wrung from the hydrophilic member and passes through the atleast one opening, through the cavity, and exits the roller.
 11. Thecleaning device of claim 10, wherein the roller includes a longitudinalaxis, a first member and a second member spaced from the first member,wherein the first member has an eccentric shape taken along a firstplane transverse to the longitudinal axis and the second member has asemi-circular shape taken along a second plane transverse to thelongitudinal axis.
 12. The cleaning device of claim 11, wherein theeccentric shape is a tear-drop shape.
 13. The cleaning device of claim10, wherein the roller includes a longitudinal axis, a first member anda second member spaced from the first member, wherein the first memberhas a first eccentric shape taken along a first plane transverse to thelongitudinal axis and the second member has a second eccentric shapetaken along a second plane transverse to the longitudinal axis.
 14. Thecleaning device of claim 13, wherein the first and second eccentricshapes are substantially identical.
 15. The cleaning device of claim 14,wherein the first and second eccentric shapes are tear-drop shapes. 16.The cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the roller includes alongitudinal axis, a first member, a second member, and a third member,wherein the second member is oriented between the first and thirdmembers, and wherein the first member has a first eccentric shape takenalong a first plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, the secondmember has a semi-circular shape taken along a second plane transverseto the longitudinal axis, and the third member has a second eccentricshape taken along a third plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. 17.The cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the first and second eccentricshapes are substantially identical.
 18. The cleaning device of claim 17,wherein the first and second eccentric shapes are tear-drop shapes. 19.The cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the opening is one of aplurality of openings defined through the outer wall of the roller andliquid forced from the hydrophilic member passes through the roller viathe plurality of openings.
 20. The cleaning device of claim 10, whereinthe roller is a first roller and the cleaning device further comprises asecond roller coupled to the hand grip, the second roller having asecond outer wall defining a second cavity and at least one openingdefined through the second outer wall and in fluid communication withthe cavity, wherein movement of the hand grip towards the hydrophilicmember moves the second roller relative to the hydrophilic member tocompress the hydrophilic member between the first roller and the secondroller, such that a liquid is wrung from the hydrophilic member andpasses through the at least one opening in the second roller, throughthe second cavity, and exits the roller.